Bikepaths are an integral part of the bicycle transportation network,
and these reports are provided to encourage their use by bicyclists who
might otherwise not venture out in the snow, and to encourage their proper
maintenance (which includes snow plowing) by the responsible agencies
given in bold type below. Paths with significant foot traffic
become unskiable within a day, and remain a mess for everyone if they
are not plowed while the snow is still soft.

It started snowing during morning commute hours on Friday morning, but
there was less than an inch by noon. The threat of heavy snow during
the evening commute led commuting employers with memories of last
December 13th's storm release employees as
early as noon. That's when I got to work after working at home through
the morning while my computer at work was being worked on. When I left
at 4:00 pm, travel wasn't too hard, though there was quite a bit more snow.
School vacation week probably eased traffic enough that things weren't too
bad. It was a good chance to see path plowing in action, with the MassPike
overpass clearing crew working hardest.

Arnold Arboretum1.5 miles of park roads which are mostly closed to automobile traffic
with no intersectionsBoston Parks and Harvard University

There was less than an inch of snow late Friday morning, and it was easy
to bike through the entire Arboretum. By Monday morning, the roads were
mostly clear, except for a bit of ice along the base of Hemlock Hill.
There were lots of bare spots even there and it was easy to bike through.

Arborway "Bike Lanes"1 mile of wide paved shoulder which is unmarked but usually clear of
parked cars during rush hourDepartment of Conservation and Recreation,
Division of Urban Parks and Recreation

They were about half clear on Friday night, but clear to the curb by
Monday night.

Friday morning, a plow had already been through, and it was pretty easy
going. At 5:30 on Friday night, the plow had been through at least once
more, and it was pretty easy biking all of the way from Route 9 to Kelly
Circle. By Monday morning, the path was entirely bare pavement.

Olmsted Park Paths3/4-mile of mostly bike/ped-separated paths built over Riverdale Road,
across Leverett Pond from the Jamaicaway.Brookline Park Department

It wasn't plowed on Friday, but by Monday it was. On Monday night, I rode
the path all of the way from Route 9 to Jamaica Pond. There were a couple
of icy stretches, probably from snow falling off trees, but this was the
first time I've seen the path plowed all of the way to Perkin St. where I
picked up the part of the bike lane which wasn't covered by snow back to the
Jamaicaway path.

Charles River BikepathNarrow, shared bike-ped path with few intersectionsDepartment of Conservation and Recreation,
Division of Urban Parks and Recreation

The path was rideable Friday morning, but wasn't plowed Friday night, so
I crossed the river to check out the MassPike overpass in Allston.
By Monday morning, the DCR had done one of their best jobs ever, plowing
the path from River St. to Harvard Square with a wider plow or multiple
passes so that people can actually pass each other without standing in the
snow. I haven't heard about upstream or Boston sections.

Ask the DCR to plow the *entire* path during or immediately after
snowfalls by calling DCR Community Affairs at 617-626-4973, or
email them.

J.F.K. ParkWide, shared bike-ped path from river to Harvard SquareDepartment of Conservation and Recreation,
Division of Urban Parks and Recreation

I rode over this bridge during the snow on Friday night and got to
see *three* snowblowers in action, with a shoveller cleaning up what
they missed. No one is going to slip off this bridge onto the Turnpike.

The park manager told the January Greenway Council meeting that he
has been plowing the path, and it sounds like he has been pretty
thorough. I haven't ridden it and would be interested in a
report from anyone who has.

Somerville Community PathWide rail trail from Davis Square to Cedar St.City of Somerville

Not checked, but probably plowed.

Red Line Linear Park PathAlewife MBTA station to Davis Square over Red LineCity of CambridgeCity of Somerville

Not checked, but probably clear.

Danehy Park PathsCity of Cambridge

Not checked, but probably clear.

Cambridge Bike LanesStriped lanes of varying widths on major and connecting streetsCity of Cambridge

These paths aren't plowed because they get relatively little transportation
use and because they are used by cross-country skiers like me. They are fun
to ride during the first couple of inches of a fresh snowfall, though.

Assabet River Rail Trail
Hudson and Marlborough, so far
Town of Hudson, City of Marlborough
(so far)

No report yet.

Northampton BikewayEast-west across the City of NorthamptonCity of Northampton

Craig Della Penna, who lives next to the path, reports that
it is the intention of the DPW to make it passable ASAP after a storm.
If the storm is significant, then they plow it repeatedly --sometimes
10-12 times during the course of the storm to ensure its usability.

Norwottuck Rail TrailNorthampton to AmherstDepartment of Conservation and Recreation,
Division of State Parks and Recreation